Christmas bees

A last minute present was delivered by the postman this morning; fondant laced with pollen. Under a full moon I slipped this package onto the bees tonight and whispered that they are not to eat it until tomorrow morning. It’s said that you must always tell the bees the news. The news is that we have made it past the solstice. A few sleeps ago sunrise caught me after I woke up. I have an image of it in my head, a vague echo; a memory imperfect yet feeling like perfection. I hadn’t seen the sunrise for weeks even though it had been hanging around on the edges of my mind. At this time of year there is always the thoughts of the local standing stones lining up with the winter sun, and thoughts of chambers like Maes Howe. Why? Why did they do it, and why does it haunt my winter thoughts. Maybe it’s obvious when the nights are so long and the days are so short. Maybe it’s obvious when I am dragged from my warm bed on a cold winter morning with the little lady screaming, “Daddy, I want to go to the toilet! Daddy, I want to go to the toilet! Daddy, I want to go to the toilet! Daddy, I want to go to the toilet! Daddy, I want to go to the toilet! Daddy, I want to go to the toilet!” The pancakes still need made and I am groggy with winter dreams. It seems routine until I am walking the little lady down the stairs and I look out the window. The hills, the sleeping bare trees, the stone grey sky, and then the sun creeping over the forest reminds me there is nothing routine in any of this. The epiphany charges me with enthusiasm; time for solstice pancakes. There is no point reminding the bees about the solstice as they are far more tuned in to these things than I. Instead, the news is that the house is bursting with excitement. The little lady and the little man are dreaming of santa. They are full of the hope of presents under the tree. The littlest man is too small for such things and a bowl full of breakfast and the sight of the lovely Sharon will probably fill him with equal delight. Happy solstice. Merry Christmas.